Conveying apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns a conveyor having a moveable plate and in which a vibratory or reciprocating motion is imparted to the plate so that articles are conveyed on the surface thereof. An eccentric is driven by a motor to cause the reciprocatory motion of the plate and control means is provided for changing the position of the eccentric to adjust the speed and direction of motion of articles on the conveyor plate.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Fausto Celorio Mendoza 3,021,952 2/1962 Powell 209/339 Cumbres de Acultungo No. 185, Lamas de FOREIGNPATENTS Chapultepec, Mexico 10, Mexico 5 300 10 52 G 20 5 pp No. 762,257ermany.....- 9/36 22 Filed S 16, 19 3 Primary Examiner-Robert G.Sheridan 5 patented Man 2 1971 Assistant Examiner-George F. AbrahamAttorney-Jeffers & Puckert [54] CONVEYING APPARATUS 4 Claims, 7 DrawingFigs. [52] US. Cl. 198/220, 209/365 II-ltinvention concerns a conveyorhaving a [50] Field of Search 198/220 moveable plate and in which avibratory l-eciprocating 09/255, 253, 329, tion is imparted to the plateso that articles are conveyed on 365, 365-] the surface thereof. Aneccentric is driven by a motor to cause the reciprocatory motion of theplate .and control means is [56] References cued provided for changingthe position of the eccentric to adjust UNITED STATES PATENTS the speedand direction of motion of articles on the conveyor 209/335 plate.

3,236,381 2/1966 Poynter PATENTEUHAR 2:911 3567012 SHEET 1 OF 5 e l eLx'INVENTOR FAUSTO CELORIO MENDOZA ATTORNEYS PATENTEUHAR 21911 3,567,012

SHEET 2 [1F 5 lNVENTOR FAUSTO CELORIO MENDOZA BY m1 ATTORN YS NIEUMAR21971 3567.012

SHEET 3 BF 5 INVENTOR FAUSTO CELOHIO MENDOZA BY %4/M TORNEYS PATENTEUHAR 21971 SHEET ,UF .5

INVENTOR FAUSTO CELORWO MENDOZA ATTORNEYS PATENTEUHAR 21971 3L567L012sum 5 OF 5 INVENTOR FAUSTO CELORIO MENDOZA ATTOR NEYS CONVEYINGAPPARATUS This invention relates to an improved conveyor ortransportation system and, more particularly, to a transportation systemin which a reciprocating or vibratory movement is given to a conveyingor transporting member for causing the product to be conveyed ortransported to move in the direction and at the speed desired.

The conveyor or transportation system of the present invention has alarge field of application, because a great variety of articles can betransported or conveyed thereby independently of the size and shapethereof.

It is generally known that conveying or transportation systems haverecently attained wide acceptance due, in particular, to automation andto the need for reduced labor costs and greater speed of movement ofarticles being processed. Automatic transportation or conveying ofarticles is, therefore, an operation that has become most desirable inmany industries and absolutely necessary in others. i a

Various systems are known and have been utilized for th automaticconveying of articles. However, all of the systems currently knownoperate more or lessin accordance with one and the same principle,namely, the principle of a surface supporting the articles and moving,or moveable, in a certain direction to advance the articles in the saiddirection.

One of the more generally known, and more important, transportationsystems is that employing endless belts for conveying articles from agiven place to another. Such endless belts operate through the rotationof two end rolls, about which the belt is entrained, although there canalsobe other intermediate rotating rolls, or by means of rotarysprockets that drivethe endless belt in forward motion on the upperportion of the belt and in backward motion on the lower portion thereof.The backward motion of the belts lower portion is not, of course, takenadvantage of at all.

Another important system for the conveyance of articles is one employinga series of rotatable rolls which, due to their rotation, support andmove the product from one place to another.

In conventional systems, above described, the rotation of some of theparts constituting the conveyance system proper is always necessary.

Referring to endless belts, these devices have a series of disadvantagesinasmuch as the use thereof involves relatively high expense due to thelarge number of costly elements generally constituting a device of thisnature. It is evident that, in order to convey an object through apredetermined length, it is necessary that the actual length of the beltbe at least twice that predetermined length because, while half of theac tual length of the belt is executing a forward working motion, theother half of the actual length of the belt is executing a backward andidle motion. Moreover, such devices require maintenance that is bothtime consuming and expensive. Additionally, the space requirements forendless belt conveying systems is substantial and the systems are noteasily moved about.

All transportation systems, endless belts and conveying rolls included,have offered a number of problems, which previous to the presentinvention had not been solved.

For example, it is, at times, desirable to reverse the direction ofmovement of the articles being conveyed. Such a reversing operation isdifficult with known conveying systems because to accomplish it the useof certain type of motors, for example, reversible motors, is required,and this represents a considerable additional expense.

n the other hand, it happens quite often that in such operations asquality control operations, in which certain products are beingcarefully inspected, the operator overlooks a number of articles, whichthus escape inspection, due to the fact that arresting the conveyedarticles implies stopping all of the conveying system, whereby, in orderto inspect all of the products, it is necessary to halt the conveyorsystem for the examination of the product, and later to start theconveyor system again which, of course, is inconvenient and not alwayspossible. i

At other times, it is highly desirable to regulate the speed at whichthe products are conveyed. This is possible only through the use ofvariable speed motors or similar complicated and expensive devices, anyof which call for additional cost.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal objective of the presentinvention is the provision of a system for the conveyance of articles,which operates on principles different from what has been used inconveying systems heretofore.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a system forthe transportation of articles, in which a reciprocating motion is givento the conveying device so as to secure the transportation of anarticle.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of atransportation system in which the direction of movement of the articlesbeing transported can be reversed easily.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aconveying system in which the articles being transported can easily bestopped.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a conveyingsystem in which the speed at which the articles are being transportedcan be varied in an extremely simple manner.

A particular object of the present invention is the provision of aconveyor system in which the direction of movement of the articles beingtransported can be reversed while using a conventional unidirectionalmotor.

Another particular object of the present invention is the provision of aconveying system in which the movement of the articles being transportedcan be halted without stopping or disconnecting the conveying device.

Still another object is the provision of an improved conveying system inwhich a variation in the transportation speed of the articles can beeffected without requiring the use of variable speed motors or any otheradditional devices.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a conveyingsystem which will occupy much smaller space than prior art systems.

Still another object is the provision of a conveying system which is ofa simple design, and has but a few parts, and requires only a smallamount of maintenance.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more clearly apparent from the following description takentogether with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conveying device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the said device, showing the mechanism thatcommunicates motion to the conveying sur' face;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the conveying device, showing thetransportation controlling mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line V-V'of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the suspension element in one of itsinclination positions; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the suspension element in another of itsinclination positions.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, and more particularly to FIG.1, it may be observed that the improved conveying system of the presentinvention comprises a frame I in which a transporting or conveying plate2 is suspended. Plate 2 has a flat horizontal main portion andupstanding side flanges. Transporting plate 2 is suspended in the frame1 by means of special suspension elements, each comprising a cup 3 inwhich a ball bearing 4 is seated. Each cup 3 is fixed at a point in theframe, and the ball bearing 4 seated therein is engaged with the upperend of a suspension arm 5. The lower end of each arm 5 engages a ballbearing, not shown which is seated in a cup 7 fixed at a point on theedge of the transporting plate 2.

As previously mentioned, a reciprocating motion is communicated to thetransporting plate, and this motion is obtained by means of a powersource 8 that actuates an eccentric 9. Eccentric 9, in turn, issurrounded by a ring or sleeve 10 which has a projection 10' providedwith a slot 11 in which the projection 12 of motion transmitting bar 13is received. Bar 13 is, additionally, provided with a guide sleeve 14which is mounted on a carriage 19 that is slidably supported on theadjacent portion of frame 1. Bar 13 has at the other end thereof, anaperture that receives vertical post of a yoke mechanism 15 secured tothe adjacent end of plate 2. Post 15 permits vertical movement of thetransporting plate relative to bar 13.

It is important for the suspension elements which connect thetransporting plate to frame 1 to be precisely in a vertical position inorder to secure the ready inversion, or reversal, of the direction ofmovement of the articles being conveyed and to permit easy control ofthe conveying speed.

When the device described above in in operation, the power supply source8, such as a unidirectional motor, will cause the eccentric 9 to rotate,whereby a horizontal reciprocating motion will be imparted to bar 13 andwhich motion will be communicated to the transporting plate 2.

The post 15 at the end of bar 13 adjacent plate 2 will allow for avertical movement of the transporting plate as it swings under thecontrol of the suspension arms 5. The combination of the horizontal andthe vertical movement taken by plate 2 will cause articles thereon toadvance across the plate in the direction that the plate moveshorizontally while it is moving upwardly.

Generally, only a small almost imperceptible tilting movement of theplate is required to effect motion of the article being transported onthe plate.

As previously stated, the speed of the product can be at will increasedor diminished in a simple manner. The speed of conveyance can be variedby modifying the inclination of all the suspension arms 5simultaneously.

According to the above described mechanism, it will be readily apparentthat the suspension arms are designed to take a circular movement attheir lower ends within a circular path which extends somewhat less than180 As bar 13 reciprocates, plate 2 will always take the same amount ofhorizontal movement but the amount and direction of the verticalmovement thereof will vary with the inclination of suspension arms 5from a vertical position. If, for example, the median position of thearms 5, as bar 13 reciprocates, is vertical, no movement of articles onplate 2 in either direction will occur over a period of time because theinfluence on the articles to move in one direction on the plate is equalto the influence on the articles to move in the opposite direction onthe plate. The mechanism is shown in this position of adjustment in FIG.2.

To cause articles to move in one direction on plate 2, the inclinationof suspension arms 5 is changed as in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6, articleson plate 2 will move toward the right thereon because suspension arms 5are inclined toward the left. Plate 2, arms 5, and bar 13 are shown intheir median position in full lines in FIG. 6 while the limit positionsthereof are shown in dashed lines. Plate 2 moves upwardly and to theright and then downwardly and to the left and at such a speed thatarticles thereon are under the influence of plate 2 during the rightwardmovement of plate 2, but are not under such influence during leftwardmovement of plate 2. The articles thus progress toward the right in FIG.6 and at a speed which can be varied by varying the inclination of arms5 in the median position thereof.

In FIG. 7, arms 5 incline to the right in the median position thereofand articles on plate 2 thus move across plate 2 toward the left.

A mechanism provided for controlling the inclination of the suspensionelements and, consequently, the speed and direction of the productsbeing conveyed will now be described.

Eccentric 9 is mounted on a central portion of a shaft 16 which, at itsends, is rotatable in bearings 17, 18 mounted on two rails 14' slidablysupported on side elements of frame 1 and forming a part of carriage l9.Carriage 19 is moveable on frame 1 by means of a lever 20 which ispivoted to frame 1 at 20 and connected to carriage 19 by eye 19' on thecarriage and pin 20 on lever 20 which engages the eye. When lever 20 isadjusted, the carriage 19 is adjusted and the position of eccentric 9changes and the angularity of suspension arms 5 also changes. Anydesired operative position of eccentric 9 can be obtained to get forwardfeed, reverse feed, no feed, and to change the speed of the forward andreverse feeds.

Lever 20 has a latch finger 21 pivoted thereto adapted for detachablyengaging teeth 22 of a curved rack member 23 fixed to one of the sideelements of frame 1. The pivot point ,20' preferably coincides with thecenter of the curvature of the rack.

Obviously the control mechanism described above can be replaced by anyother mechanism, provided it will perform the same functions.

Shaft 16 may carry a pulley 16 which is driven by a belt 16 which passesover a pulley on the output shaft of motor 8. Belt 16 is sufficientlyyieldable to permit adjustment of carriage 19 on frame 1 while motor 8remains stationary without disrupting the driving connection of themotor with the shaft. However, spring loaded idler pulley means could beused to hold belt 16" taut, if desired.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed and illustrated, it is evident that various changes andmodifications may be effected in the structure. Accordingly, it isintended that the specification and drawings are to be taken only asillustrative of the invention and that the extent of the presentinvention is defined in the following claims.

lclaim:

1. In a conveying apparatus: a frame; a horizontal plate adapted toreceive articles to be fed across the plate by vibration thereof;suspension elements swingably suspending said plate in said frame formovement of the plate in the frame in parallelism with itself; poweroperable means carried by said frame and connected to said plate forimparting horizontal reciprocatory motion thereto in the direction ofthe length of said plate, said power operable means comprising aunidirectional shaft, an eccentric mounted'on and driven by said shaft,a sleeve or ring surrounding the eccentric, a substantially horizontalbar extending in the direction of horizontal movement of said plate,first means at one end of the bar connecting it to said sleeve or ring,and second means at the other end of the bar connecting it to saidplate, said second means including means permitting said plate to movevertically relative to said bar, said bar being guided for movement in astraight line; and means for adjusting the inclination of saidsuspension elements relative to the plane of said plate.

2. In a conveying apparatus: a frame; a horizontal plate adapted toreceive articles to be fed across the plate by vibration thereof;suspension elements swingably suspending said plate in said frame formovement of the plate in the frame in parallelism with itself, saidsuspension elements comprising parallel arms distributed about saidplate and pivotally connected at their lower ends to said plate and attheir upper ends to said frame; power operable means carried by saidframe and connected to said plate for imparting horizontal reciprocatorymotion thereto in the direction of the length of said plate, said poweroperable means comprising a unidirectional shaft, an eccentric mountedon and driven by said shaft, a sleeve or ring surrounding the eccentric,a substantially horizontal bar extending in the direction of horizontalmovement of said plate, first means at one end of the bar connecting itto said sleeve or ring, and second means at the other end of said barconnecting it to said plate; means for adjusting the inclination of saidsuspension elements relative to the plane of said plate; a carriageslidable on said frame in the direction of the length of said plate;means supporting said shaft in said carriage; and adjusting means foradjusting the position of said carriage on said frame for adjusting theinclination of said suspension armsand, therefor, the direction andspeed of travel of articles across said plate.

3. A conveying apparatus according to claim 2, in which said adjustingmeans includes a lever pivoted to said frame and to said carriage.

and detachably engageable with the notches in said notched member.

1. In a conveying apparatus: a frame; a horizontal plate adapted toreceive articles to be fed across the plate by vibration thereof;suspension elements swingably suspending said plate in said frame formovement of the plate in the frame in parallelism with itself; poweroperable means carried by said frame and connected to said plate forimparting horizontal reciprocatory motion thereto in the direction ofthe length of said plate, said power operable means comprising aunidirectional shaft, an eccentric mounted on and driven by said shaft,a sleeve or ring surrounding the eccentric, a substantially horizontalbar extending in the direction of horizontal movement of said plate,first means at one end of the bar connecting it to said sleeve or ring,and second means at the other end of the bar connecting it to saidplate, said second means including means permitting said plate to movevertically relative to said bar, said bar being guided for movement in astraight line; and means for adjusting the inclination of saidsuspension elements relative to the plane of said plate.
 2. In aconveying apparatus: a frame; a horizontal plate adapted to receivearticles to be fed across the plate by vibration thereof; suspensionelements swingably suspending said plate in said frame for movement ofthe plate in the frame in parallelism with itself, said suspensionelements comprising parallel arms distributed about said plate andpivotally connected at their lower ends to said plate and at their upperends to said frame; power operable means carried by said frame andconnected to said plate for imparting horizontal reciprocatory motionthereto in the direction of the length of said plate, said poweroperable means comprising a unidirectional shaft, an eccentric mountedon and driven by said shaft, a sleeve or ring surrounding the eccentric,a substantially horizontal bar extending in the direction of horizontalmovement of said plate, first means at one end of the bar connecting itto said sleeve or ring, and second means at the other end of said barconnecting it to said plate; means for adjusting the inclination of saidsuspension elements relative to the plane of said plate; a carriageslidable on said frame in the direction of the length of said plate;means supporting said shaft in said carriage; and adjusting means foradjusting the position of said carriage on said frame for adjusting theinclination of said suspension arms and, therefor, the direction andspeed of travel of articles across said plate.
 3. A conveying apparatusaccording to claim 2, in which said adjusting means includes a leverpivoted to said frame and to said carriage.
 4. A conveying apparatusaccording to claim 3, in which a notched member is mounted on the frameadjacent said lever and said lever has a finger member moveably carriedthereby and detachably engageable with the notches in said notchedmember.